AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
acquaintedadjectiveUS /əˈkweɪntɪd/
having fair knowledge of
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
addverbUS /æd/
make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
anxiousadjectiveUS /ˈæŋkʃəs/
eagerly desirous
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
belongingnounUS /bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋ/
happiness felt in a secure relationship
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
completedadjectiveUS /kəmˈpliːtəd/
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
constitutionnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃən/
law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
devotedadjectiveUS /dɪˈvoʊtɪd/
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
difficultynounUS /ˈdɪfəkəlti/
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
estatesnounUS /ɪˈsteɪts/
plural of “estate” — everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
existencenounUS /eɡˈzɪstəns/
the state or fact of existing
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
extendedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstendəd/
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
familiesnounUS /ˈfæməliz/
plural of “family” — a social unit living together
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
familynounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
healthnounUS /helθ/
a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
heronounUS /ˈhɪroʊ/
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
listenverbUS /ˈlɪsən/
hear with intention
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
literaryadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəreri/
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
manhoodnounUS /ˈmænhʊd/
the state of being a man; manly qualities
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
marryverbUS /ˈmeri/
take in marriage
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
milesnounUS /maɪlz/
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
nameverbUS /neɪm/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
naturallyadverbUS /ˈnætʃərəli/
as might be expected
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
PalermonounUS /pəˈlermoʊ/
the capital of Sicily; located in northwestern Sicily; an important port for 3000 years
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
parentsnounUS /ˈperənts/
plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
possessverbUS /pəˈzes/
have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
promiseverbUS /ˈprɑːməs/
make a promise or commitment
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
pursuitsnounUS /pərˈsuːts/
plural of “pursuit” — the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
readernounUS /ˈriːdər/
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
rearedverbUS /rɪrd/
past form of “rear” — stand up on the hind legs, of quadrupeds
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
retiredadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrd/
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
seatnounUS /siːt/
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
shuttingnounUS /ˈʃʌtɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
SicilynounUS /ˈsɪsəli/
the Italian region on the island of Sicily
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
sonnounUS /sʌn/
a male human offspring
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
studiesnounUS /ˈstʌdiz/
plural of “study” — a detailed critical inspection
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading "As he was an only son, his parents were naturally very anxious that he should marry; the more so as his health did not promise him a very extended existence.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
weaklyadverbUS /ˈwiːkli/
in a weak or feeble manner or to a minor degree
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A long story, which the reader must listen to, as well as our hero.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
whollyadverbUS /ˈhoʊli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading When his studies were completed he retired to his country seat belonging to our family, which is about twenty miles from Palermo, and shutting himself up, devoted himself wholly to literary pursuits.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I have already made you acquainted with my name, and I have only to add that it is one of the most noble in Sicily, and that there are few families who possess such large estates.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading My father was a man who had no pleasure in the pursuits of most of the young men of his age; he was of a weakly constitution, and was with difficulty reared to manhood.
